Hundreds wait hours to apply for U.S. Border Patrol jobs

More than 100,000 nationwide expected to seek 2,200 positions

September 18, 2010|By Wayne K. Roustan, Sun Sentinel

DANIA BEACH Desiree Telfort drove two hours from St. Lucie County on Saturday only to find hundreds of people in line outside the U.S. Border Patrol station in Dania Beach, each seeking one of 2,200 job openings across the country.

"Actually, I just want a job," said the Indian River State College Criminal Justice student. "A lot of places don't have openings, and since they [Border Patrol] have openings, that's why I came."

People started queuing as early as 5 a.m. for the recruitment drive from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"This is not an exaggeration, there were more than 500 people in line by the time we opened the door at 9 o'clock this morning," said Border Patrol spokesman Chuck Prichard.

Some waited for up to five hours. They got a brief job description presentation from an agent and then a tour of the Border Patrol station.

Job applications are being accepted online until the Sept. 30 deadline.

Similar events were held in Tampa, Jacksonville and elsewhere around the country Saturday. The Border Patrol expects 100,000 applications nationwide.

"Statistically what we've seen is that it takes about 45 applicants for us to actually find one qualified person to actually offer a job to," Prichard said.

The starting salary ranges from $38,619 to $63,259 a year, said Prichard. Applicants must be between 18 and 39, be a U.S. citizen and have a valid driver's license.

They must also pass a thorough background check, take a written examination, undergo medical and drug screenings, take two pre-employment physical fitness tests and pass an oral hiring board conducted by three Border Patrol agents.

Then there are 13 weeks of training at the academy and several more weeks to learn Spanish, if necessary, before most new hires are stationed along the southwest U.S. border in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.

Many applicants are former military or law enforcement officers.

The Border Patrol states its primary mission is to prevent terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States, but agents are also charged with "detecting and preventing the smuggling and unlawful entry of undocumented aliens."

"I'm just looking for a good secure position, that's all, a job, a career," said Florida Atlantic University graduate Amanda O'Hara.